Dad ‘stunned’ at bid to reverse his holiday victory over school

The dad who won a High Court fight for the right to take his daughter on holiday during school time says he is stunned that the Government is funding a bid to have the landmark judgment overturned.

The Isle of Wight Council lost its High Court appeal last month against Jon Platt’s appeal against a fine for unauthorised absence.

But the case is set for a new legal fight, with the government funding the council - leaving Mr Platt furious.

He said: ‘I am absolutely stunned. I thought this was all over and done with.

“There is absolutely no basis to argue this, it’s purely about stalling the inevitable because they want to keep issuing these fines.

“It could be a flaming year before we go back to court.

“They did not even have the decency to tell me, it’s staggering.”

An Isle of Wight Council spokesman said: “The Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, MP, has formally requested that the Isle of Wight Council makes an application for permission to appeal against the High Court judgment of 13 May, in relation to unauthorised school absence.

“As a result, the Isle of Wight Council has formally submitted papers applying for permission to appeal.

“The request for the council to make an application for permission to appeal comes with a commitment from the Department for Education (DfE) to meet the council’s costs of applying to the High Court (and, if refused, to the Supreme Court) for permission to appeal, and other future costs. DfE counsel will make submissions in support of the application.

“If an appeal is granted by the High Court or, subsequently, the Supreme Court, the department has stated it will specifically seek to be joined as a party to the proceedings and take the lead in the appeal.”